Cross Country Teams Take Second at NCCAA National Championships
November 14, 2009
CEDARVILLE, Ohio. – The Maranatha men’s and women’s cross country teams both competed at the NCCAA National Championships on a beautiful fall day on Saturday, Nov. 14. Hosted by Cedarville University, the meet included a 5K course for the women and an 8K course for the men. Full Story
Cross Country Teams Compete at the Northern Athletics Conference Championships
October 31, 2009
Results--Women's 6K
Results--Men's 8K
MEQUON, Wis. – The Maranatha men’s and women’s cross country teams competed at the Northern Athletics Conference Championships on Saturday, Oct. 31. The conference meet was hosted by Concordia University of Wisconsin. Full Story
Cross Country Teams Compete at the Wisconsin Private Colleges Invitational
October 17, 2009
Results--Women's 6K
Results--Men's 8K
RIPON, Wis. – The Maranatha men’s and women’s cross country teams competed in the Wisconsin Private Colleges Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 17. Hosted by Ripon College, the meet included a 6K course for the women and an 8K course for the men. Both courses were hilly.Full Story
O’Malley Finishes Fourth at Warrior Invitational
October 3, 2009
WEST ALLIS, Wis. – Freshman runner William O’Malley (Rockford, Ill.) finished in fourth place at the Warrior Invitational to lead the Crusader cross country teams at Greenfield Park on Saturday. Full Story
The Maranatha Cross Country Teams Look Strong at Concordia
September 19, 2009
MEQUON, Wis. – The Maranatha cross country teams continued to improve their times at the Concordia Invitational in Mequon, Wis. on Saturday. More
Maranatha Cross Country Team Starts Season at Carroll College Invite
Sept. 16, 2009
WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Maranatha Baptist Bible College Cross Country team started the 2009 season this past Saturday at the Carroll College Invite at Minooka Park in Waukesha, Wisconsin. More
Not Looking Back
Cross Country Season Preview
The men’s and women’s cross country teams at Maranatha will look to build off a successful 2008 season and reach greater heights in 2009. During the 2008 season the men’s cross country team took first place, and the women’s team took second place at the NCCAA II National Meet in Cedarville, Ohio. The team brings back 4 NCCAA All-Americans from 2008—seniors Lori Biastock (Benton Harbor, Mich.), Juliana Brahs (Spring Lake Park, Minn.), and Peter Struska (Watertown, Wis.) and sophomore Isaiah Steinbart (Hartland, Wis.).
With 5 seniors on the team, leadership will clearly be one of the strengths of the 2009 team. “That kind of maturity and experience is invaluable,” Head Coach Lisa Turner said. “After learning so much and really fine-tuning their own personal racing over the last 3 years, they are ready to not only have a great senior season themselves, but to encourage the younger runners to reach for success with them this year.”
Instead of looking back and enjoying the success they had in 2008, the runners have come back determined to perform even better. The team’s commitment to success is best exemplified by their level of fitness coming into the preseason. “It's always hard to know how the runners will arrive because sometimes they are gone all summer on mission trips, etc., but this fall, even the younger runners were faithful to log the miles,” Coach Turner said. “The whole team seems to have arrived this fall ready to run! They have a lot of heart and a good work ethic.”
The 2009 teams will also have much better depth. A solid addition to the men’s team is William O’Malley, a freshman from Rockford, Ill. who comes in with experience as a successful high school athlete in both cross country and track and field. “Will has incredible potential,” Coach Turner said. “I'm excited to see him do some great things in his freshman year here at MBBC.” The women’s team has also added some freshmen runners that will make significant contributions. “Our teams are going to be able to run more as a pack than in previous years, which not only helps morale during the race, but it keeps our numbers close at the finish line,” Coach Turner said.
With the leadership and commitment already shown by a 2009 team that is deeper than the successful 2008 team, Coach Turner has high expectations for the season in both the Northern Athletics Conference and the NCCAA. “I am truly looking forward to what I believe has the potential to be a very successful season,” Coach Turner said. “I’d like to see both teams move up at least one or two places in the NAC, and both teams are going to work hard to bring home both NCCAA National Championship banners.”
Click here to read 2008 cross country stories
Click here to read 2007 cross country stories
Click here to read 2006 cross country stories